Newcastle are back in the Champions League even after suffering a 1-0 defeat on the final day of the season, thanks to the additional berth allotted to English clubs.
With return to Europe confirmed, Magpies have another historic visit in sight with the North East London club set to travel to South Korea for the first time in their history as part of the 2025 Coupang Play Series: a marquee pre-season tournament designed to showcase European heavyweights in Asia.
Streaming platform Coupang Play confirmed on May 27 that Newcastle will join Tottenham Hotspur and a team of K League All-Stars in the third edition of the series, which has quickly emerged as a prime fixture in the summer football calendar.
The announcement comes just days after Eddie Howe’s side clinched the fifth and final Champions League spot on the last day of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Newcastle, despite a 0-1 defeat to Everton at St James’ Park on May 25, leapfrogged Aston Villa on goal difference (+21 to +7), thanks to favorable results elsewhere, notably Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Villa and Chelsea’s victory at Nottingham Forest.
It caps a landmark campaign for the Magpies, who lifted the EFL Cup in March by beating Liverpool, which also their first major domestic silverware in 70 years.
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Star forward Alexander Isak, who sat out the Everton clash due to injury, made his return on the final day and is expected to spearhead the attack in Seoul.
Isak’s 23 league goals this season made him the second-highest scorer in the Premier League.
He is likely to be joined by winger Harvey Barnes, who recently described Tottenham captain Son Heung-min as an “inspiration.”
Newcastle’s upcoming clash with Spurs — Son’s club — will mark the first all-Premier League match in Coupang Play Series history.
Match dates and venues remain subject to approval by the Korea Football Association, Coupang stated.
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